Railway track brake



June 24, 1930. I J E STEPHENSON 1,766,559

RAILWAY TRACK BRAKE Filed Dec. 15, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 9 J. E. STEPHENSON RAILWAY TRACK BRAKE Filed Dec. 15. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V A CI INVE TOR Patented June 24, lth'lfi PATENT ()FFKIE JAMES E. STEPHENSON, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL RAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK RAILWAY TRACK BRAKE Application filed. December 15, 192

This invention relates in general to railway brake devices, and has more particular reference to a track brake, fixed relatively to a trackway.

In braking railway vehicles, and more particularly in hump yard and classification yard operation, it is often desirable to have a brake means positioned along the trackway rather than to depend upon the usual brak- 19 ing between a brake shoe and the vehicle wheel. In case of a track brake, it is unnecessary for the vehicle to be ridden by a brakeman, since the various track brakes distributed through a classification yard, can all be operated from the trackway or from a central control tower. Furthermore by using a track brake, the energy which must be absorbed in bringing the vehicle to rest, or in slowing it down can be absorbed by means other than the wheels of the vehicle, and thus avoid undue wear on the vehicle wheels.

\Vith the above and other considerations in mind, it is proposed, in accordance with the present invention, to provide a track brake, controllable from a distant point, if desirable, and having means for adjusting the braking effort, which will receive the energy of a moving vehicle and transfer and dissipate such energy in a suitable and effective manner.

F nrther objects, purposes, and characteristic features of the present invention will appear as the description thereof progresses, reference being had to the accompanying nrawings, showing solely by way of ill stration, two physical embodiments which the invention may assume. In the drawings z- Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a device in accordance with this invention, taken on the line 11 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the device shown in Fig. 1; and

Figs. 3 and 4% are views corresponding respectively to those of Figs. 1 and 2, with parts omitted for clearness, showing a modified form of the invention.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a tracliway including track rails l, beneath which is formed a pit 2, lined with concrete or other suitable Serial No. 154,944.

material, the track rails being supported by I-beams 3, spanning the pit and embedded in the concrete.

Positioned on, and securely anchored to, the floor of the pit is a plurality of support members 4, having spaced upwardly extending arms 5, with intermediate horizontally extending spaced arms 6. In the case of each support member 4, two connecting members 7 are positioned vertically one above the other and pivotally held between the arms 5, and are pivotally connected, at the ends, to two vertically arranged brake arms 8 positioned parallel one to the other, and so arranged that one of the arms 8 extends about the level of the track rail 1 when the other arm of a connected pair is positioned below such level. The connecting members 7 are positioned on opposite sides of the horizontal arms 6., with the brake arms 8 passing between such horizontal arms and frictionally engaging a friction pad 9 on each side. The friction pads are held against the brake arms 8 by means of bolts 10 carrying adjusting nuts 11 at one end for varying the tension of a coil spring 12 thereon. It will be clear from Fig. 2 that the frictional engagement between the arms 8 and the friction members 9 can be increased or decreased by operating the nuts 11 inwardly or outwardly on the bolts 10. As seen in Fig. 1, each pair of friction members 9 has an adjusting means on each side thereof.

The upper ends of the brake arms 8 are inclined upwardly in the direction of travel on the rails which in the present instance is from left to right, as viewed in Fig. 1. As the wheels 18 of a railway vehicle pass over the rails at the point where the track brake is positioned, the arms 8 of each connected pair of arms, are faced downwardly and then upwardly against the friction of the pads 9, to thus dissipate the energy of the moving vehicle. In considering the brake arms 8 as shown in Fig. 1, when a truck wheel passes over the brake arm at the left side of the figure, this arm is forced down- Wardly against the frictional resistance of the friction pads 9 and the connecting member 7 forces the adjacent arm 8, connected with the brake arm under co sideration, in an upward direction against the frictional resistance of the friction pads of this particular arm. The interconnected arms are spaced a sutlicicnt distance, one from the other, so that the second arm can not be operated on by a wheel until such wheel has cleared the first arm. \Vhcn the second arm is acted on by the wheel it in turn is de pressed and the first arm is raised, in exactly the reverse manner to the operation first described. Any number of sets of brake arms 8 can be positioned along the track rails depending upon desired brake effect to be obtained, although only two such sets in series have been shown in the drawing.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and at. of the drawings, a modification of the track brake shown in Fig. 1 is illustrated. This track brake is in general similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and hence only the differences between the two forms will be particularly stressed.

Track rails 1 forming the usual trackway are supported on I-beams 3 where they pass over a lined pit 2 which receives the track brake apparatus.

Instead of stands for supporting the brake arms, these brake arms 14. are connected in pairs by members pivoted to the brake arms at 15, the members 15 being pivotally 'arried by bolts 16 embedded in the sides of the pit. Instead of having the interconnected pairs of arms arranged serially one after the other, as in Fig. 1, these pairs are overlapped, as shown in Fig. 2:5, so that a brake arm 11 of a second pair falls between the two brake arms of a first pair. The overlapping brake arms are furnished with slots 17 for permitting movement of such arms over the supporting bolts 16, without affecting their operation. By overlapping the pairs of interconnected arms other things being equal, a more concentrated braking efi'ect is obtainable per unit length of track.

Each of the brake arms 14 passes between friction members 18 formed of any suitable friction material and arranged to be pressed against the opposite sides of the brake arms with varying degrees of pressure by means of a plurality of horizontal shafts 19, passing through the friction members 18 and positioned in the spaces between the brake arms 14. On each shaft 19 is a rotatable sleeve 20 having a crank 21, all of the cranks being connected to an operating rod 22 which can be operated locally, or from a distance by electric or pneumatic power, or in any other desired. manner. At each end of the sleeve 20, is a cam member 23, arranged to slide a tension adjusting strip 24 along the shafts 19, against the tension of a spring 25 positioned between the member 24- and the inner friction member 18, to thereby vary the pressure between the brake arms 14 and the friction members 18, so as to readily adjust the braking effort. In order to give the device the necessary stability, straps 26 pass around the friction members 18 and the tensioning strip 24, and are connected to the side walls of the pit by means of bolts 27.

As will be readily understood from the above description, a vehicle on passing over a track equipped with a brake as just de' scribed, successively lowers and raises the brake arms 14 and transmits its energy to the friction members 18 there to dissipate the same in heat, while the adjusting rod 2:: can be operated, in any desired manner, to vary the braking effort in accordance with attendant circumstances.

\Vith the type of track brake set forth above, when the brake is applied to a railway vehicle, the etlect on the vehicle is substantially the same as though it were subjected to a steady upward grade, and the vehicle is slowed down or brought to a stand still just as effectively as though it were actually subjected to climbing a steep continuous grade.

The above rather specific description of two physical embodiments of the present invention has been given solely by way of illustration, and is not intended, in any manner whatsoever, in a limited sense. Obviously, the invention can assume various physical forms and is susceptible of numerous inodifications, and all such forms and modifications are intended to be covered by this invention, as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention I now claim:-

1 In a track brake for railway vehicles, a reciprocable arm adjacent and projecting at tunes above a track rail and reciprocated by a passing car treading upon the same. an ad ustable friction brake for the armathe upper end of the arm being upwardly inchncd in the direction of trafiic.

2. In a railway vehicle track brake, in combination with track rails, spaced reciprocable arms reciprocated by passing car wheels, means iuterconm-cting the arms to restrain them to move in opposite directions. and brake means for the arms.

3. In a railway vehicle track brake. in combination with track rails. spaced reciprocable arms depressed by the passing car wheels and having ends upwardly inclined n the direction of tratfic, a pivoted member interconnecting the arms to restrain them to move in opposite directions, and adjustable friction brake means bearing against the arm.

4. In a track brake for railway vehicles. a plurality of reciprocable arms positioned adjacent a track rail which are arranged to at times project above the rail and are reciprocated by passing car wheels, means interconnecting the arms in pairs so as to restrain the interconnected arms of each pair to move in opposite directions, and means for absorbing energy of motion of the arms.

5. In a track brake for railway vehicles, a plurality of reciprocable arms positioned adjacent a track rail, and arranged to at times project above the rail, the upper ends of the arms sloping upwardly in the direction of trafiic, pivoted means interconnecting the arms in overlapping pairs so as to restrain the interconnecting arms of each pair to move in opposite directions, and means for absorbing energy of motion of the arms.

6. In a track brake for railway vehicles, a plurality of reciprocable arms positioned adjacent a track rail, and arranged to at times project above the rail, means interconnecting the arms in pairs so as to restrain the interconnected arms of each pair to move in opposite directions, t 'iction pads bearing against the arms, and means to vary the pressure between the arms and the pads.

7. In a track brake for railway vehicles, a plurality of reciprocable arms positioned adjacent a track rail, and arranged to at times project above the rail, means interconnecting the arms in pairs so as to restrain the interconnected arms of each pair to move in opposite directions, friction pads bearing against the arms, and cam actuated spring means to vary the pressure between the arms and the pads.

8. In a track brake, vertically movable members arranged along and at times projecting above, the track rail of a railway track to be engaged by the peripheral edge of a car wheel running on such rail and depressed thereby, and energy absorbing means for retarding the movement of said members.

9. In a track brake, vertically reciprocable members normally arranged along the track rail of a railway track to be engaged by the peripheral edge of a car wheel running on such rail and depressed thereby, means for returning said members to their normal positions immediately after passage of said car- Wheel, and energy absorbing means for retarding the movement of said members.

10. A track brake comprising in combination, vertically reciprocable members arranged along the track rail of a railway track so as to be depressed by the peripheral edge of a passing car wheel, and spring pressed braking means for retarding the movement of said members.

11. A track brake comprising in combination, vertically reciprocable members normally arranged along the track rail of a railway track so as to be depressed by the peripheral edge of a passing car wheel, means for returning said members to normal position immediately after passage of such car JAMES E. STEPHENSON. 

